GM 6.2/6.5 Liter Diesel Engines – How to Rebuild
Author: Dr John F Kershaw Published by: Car Tech ISBN: 978-1-61325-560-5
The American auto industry isn’t renowned for its diesel engines and while it’s justifiably proud of the engineering that has created reliable petrol fuelled engines, one sees little about their parallel development of diesel technology. Nevertheless, in the Seventies, following the Middle East fuel crisis, manufacturers revisited diesel technology because of their relative efficiency and lower fuel consumption.
GM produced a 5.7-litre V8 diesel in 1978 which, while reasonably successful and offered in many Oldsmobile cars of the period, suffered from reliability issues. These were replaced in 1982 by the much improved 6.2-litre V8 diesels, many offered as alternative motors for light trucks. This lasted until 1992 when the improved 6.5-litre V8 diesel replaced it, remaining in production until 2001. While admittedly not the first choice for most enthusiasts considering the general demonisation of diesel technology, there are 20 years of budget-priced Chevrolet and GMC diesel-powered SUVs and pick-ups that could be considered prime candidates for importation, as the prices of these now classic trucks continue to rise.
Don’t be deterred by the unfamiliar engines, as help is at hand. This new Workbench How-To from Car Tech, written by a retired GM employee who spent years developing these engines, it explains how the technology works, the tools needed to rebuild them, their history, construction, fuel system, the glow plugs, how to diagnose engine noises, all about injection pump timing and cooling system issues. It demonstrates in the publisher’s usual clear and no-nonsense style how to remove the engine, disassemble it, remove and overhaul the Stanadyne DB2 injection pump, cleaning and machining the engine, reassembly, installation, diagnostics and modifications. There’s a useful Appendix with engine specifications and a Source Guide. This might not be ‘mainstream’ from our perception, but will be invaluable for those who are tempted by a relatively cheap-to-run GM diesel option.